Stock Market & Financial Investment News

Disney weighs purchase of YouTube network Maker Studios, Re/code saysDisney (DIS) is in talks with Maker Studios, a video network that publishes videos on Google's (GOOG) YouTube platform and generates 5.5B video views per month, in a deal that could value Maker at $500M or more, Re/code reports, citing people familiar with the negotiations. Reference Link

eBay downgraded to Underweight from Neutral at Piper JaffrayPiper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster downgraded eBay (EBAY) to Underweight, the firm's sell-equivalent rating, saying competition from Google Wallet (GOOG), Apple Pay (AAPL), Facebook (FB) and Samsung will weigh on PayPal's valuation and market share over the next three years. Munster notes shares of eBay are up 12% since the beginning of February due to optimism around the PayPal spin-out. He cut his price target for shares to $49 from $55. The online marketplace and PayPal owner closed yesterday down $1.07 to $58.42.

Verizon may launch mobile TV service as soon as June, Bloomberg saysVerizon (VZ) has secured mobile television streaming rights with Viacom (VIA, VIAB) and DreamWorks Animation (DWA) and plans to start a mobile video streaming service as early as June, according to Bloomberg, citing a person familiar with the matter. Verizon plans to have programming from ABC (DIS), NBC (CMCSA), CBS (CBS) and Fox (FOXA) as part of the service, the report added. The Fly notes that Verizon has publicly confirmed previously that it plans to launch such a service, but has not provided many details to date.

Apple has small team working on augmented reality, says Piper JaffrayPiper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster says that following talks with industry contacts, he believes Apple (AAPL) has a small team working and exploring the augmented reality space. Munster believes augmented reality has the potential to "be as profound a technology platform as the smartphone today," but admits broader consumer adoption is likely 10 years away. He views Apple's involvement in the space as an indication the company is preparing for the next evolution of computing. Munster has an Overweight rating on Apple with a $160 price target. He describes augmented reality as the "overlay of digital information on the physical world," with Google (GOOG) Glass given as an example.

DISH announces four new A+E Network channelsDish's (DISH) Sling TV announced that four A+E Networks’ channels -- A&E, HISTORY, H2 and Lifetime -- will be available in its “Best of Live TV” core package by the end of March. The company’s core package will remain priced at $20 per month. With this update also comes the introduction of two new add-on packs, “Lifestyle Extra” and “World News Extra,” each priced at an additional $5 per month. Sling TV will announce A+E Networks’ launch date and Video-On-Demand availability within the coming weeks. Sling TV plans to provide existing “News & Info Extra” subscribers with both the “Lifestyle Extra” and “World News Extra” for a total of $5 per month. A&E is jointly owned by Disney (DIS) and Hearst.